Watch This: Billy Elliott

There’s not much new about the theme of Billy Elliott, that of the strength of love and of being true to oneself. But this is a fresh new take, with its focus upon an eleven year old boy from a gritty mining town who wants to become a ballet dancer. Jamie Bell is winning as the novice dancer, and Gary Lewis as his coal miner dad does well with the struggle to come to terms with his wish for a better life for his son and his puzzlement about his choice of profession, which he views as rather “poofy”, of course. First rate acting, the gritty background of the mining town, the taut dialog, and the T-Rex soundtrack all work to make this movie a winner. IMO, suitable for family viewing and highly recommended as such.